Shloka 27

Mukti-tattva Upadeśa: Knowledge as the Direct Cause of Liberation

Devanagari script

कालो न ज्ञायते नानाकार्यैः संसारसम्भवैः / सुखं दुःखं जनो हन्त न वेत्ति हितमात्मनः

Transliteration

kālo na jñāyate nānākāryaiḥ saṃsārasambhavaiḥ / sukhaṃ duḥkhaṃ jano hanta na vetti hitamātmanaḥ

Translation

時は知られない。輪廻（サンサーラ）より生ずる種々の営みに覆われているからである。ああ、人は楽を追い苦を避けるが、己にとって真に益あるものを知らない。

Word by Word

• kālaḥ: time
• kālaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध-अव्यय)

• jñāyate: is known/understood
• jñāyate: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: jñā (ज्ञा धातु)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), Passive voice (कर्मणि प्रयोग), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• nānā-kāryaiḥ: by various activities/affairs
• nānā-kāryaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nānā (अव्यय) + kārya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन); karmadhāraya: ‘various’ qualifying ‘acts/affairs’

• saṃsāra-sambhavaiḥ: arising from worldly existence
• saṃsāra-sambhavaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: saṃsāra (प्रातिपदिक) + sambhava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन); tatpuruṣa (षष्ठी): ‘arising from saṃsāra’

• sukham: happiness
• sukham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• duḥkham: sorrow
• duḥkham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: duḥkha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• janaḥ: a person/people
• janaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• hanta: alas/indeed
• hanta: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/उद्गार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hanta (अव्यय)
• Form: Exclamatory particle/interjection (उद्गार-अव्यय)

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध-अव्यय)

• vetti: knows
• vetti: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vid (विद् धातु)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• hitam: welfare/benefit
• hitam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• ātmanaḥ: of oneself
• ātmanaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Worldly activities obscure awareness of time; people pursue sukha and avoid duḥkha yet miss true ātma-hita (spiritual good).

Vedantic Theme: Preyas-śreyas confusion; avidyā expressed as compulsive engagement (pravṛtti) without viveka; need for inward turn.

Application: Audit daily activities; reduce compulsive pursuits; introduce pauses for remembrance of mortality, self-inquiry, and devotion.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.49.25-26 (urgency; practice now); Garuda Purana 2.49.28 (delusion as intoxication); Garuda Purana 2.49.29 (impermanence of wealth/youth/life)

FAQs

What is the importance of understanding Time (kāla) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse warns that constant worldly activity makes one forget impermanence; remembering kāla supports dharma, detachment, and timely preparation for death-related duties.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By showing that attachment to sukha-duḥkha clouds discernment, it implies the soul’s journey is shaped by karma and clarity; right understanding in life helps avoid confusion and suffering after death.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Reduce compulsive busyness, practice daily reflection on impermanence, and choose actions aligned with long-term welfare (hita)—truthfulness, restraint, charity, and remembrance of dharma.